I was relieved when client was fined N200k in damages instead of N5n -Ibn Mahmud
Ibn Mahmud Haruna Geo, Esq is an Ilorin-based legal practitioner, he hails from Baruten Local Govt of Kwara State, born in New-Bussa (then Kwara) now part of Niger State. He is an alumnus of University of Ilorin, graduating in 2012 before proceeding to Nigerian Law School and was called to the Bar in 2013.
He served and worked briefly in Ibadan, Oyo State where he learnt the practice of law particularly litigation before returning to Ilorin to join the law firm of Abdulwahab Bamidele & Co.
In this interview with JIMOH SULYMAN, he recalled one of his most dramatic moment in court. Excerpt:
I have had many memorable experiences in legal practice to the glory of God Almighty.
One of the latest one was a matter we prosecuted at the Court of Appeal Ilorin Division in *Appeal No: CA/IL/21/2021*.
The reason why we appealed was because the Kwara State High Court gave Judgment against our Client who was sued at the High Court.
In the Judgement of the Kwara State High Court, our Client was mandated to pay five thousand naira daily (from 2017 until when we comply) to the Judgment Creditor who won the case at trial.
If one should calculate the judgment sum, it will be running into few millions of naira.
So, our Client instructed us to appeal the Judgment of the Kwara State High Court to the Court of Appeal.
Our saving grace at the court of appeal was that the Respondent (who won at the High Court) did not plead material facts to justify the specific damages of five thousand naira daily the trial court awarded in his favour.
So, on appeal, we hammered on this fatal ommission and the appellate court agreed with us. So, the Court of Appeal set aside the order of the High Court that our Client should pay five thousand naira daily and only awarded two hundred thousand naira in general damages and cost against our Client.
We were satisfied, because instead of paying over 5million naira, we ended up paying below five hundred thousand naira to the Respondent, it was such a big relief to us and our Client.
